Atlanta — Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG), parent company of the franchisor of the Arby’s brand, has acquired all 19 Arby’s® restaurants in the Knoxville, Tenn., area previously operated by Arby’s franchisee T.G.J. & Co., Inc.
Tom Johnson, Jr. began the family-owned business when he opened his first Arby’s restaurant on May 20, 1968 at 6903 Kingston Pike Rd. in Knoxville. Johnson was one of Arby’s early franchisees and an original board member of ARCOP, Arby’s supply chain co-operative. His son, Tom Johnson III, was active as an Arby’s Franchise Association (AFA) Board member for many years.
“T.G.J. & Co. and the Johnson’s have been outstanding operators and members of the Arby’s family for nearly 50 years,” says Paul Brown, chief executive officer, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) “We are proud to become the stewards of this great business several generations of the Johnson family have worked so hard to build. We will deliver a seamless transition.”
Arby’s remains on track with its goal to surpass $4 billion in total system-wide same-store sales (SSS) by the end of 2018. The brand has achieved 22 consecutive quarters of SSS growth and 13 consecutive quarters of industry outperformance.
Arby’s, founded in 1964, is the first nationally franchised sandwich restaurant brand, with more than 3,300 restaurants worldwide. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the parent company of the franchisor of the Arby’s brand and is headquartered in Atlanta. For more information, visit Arbys.com.
SOURCE: Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.